Luis León Sánchez Gil, in his first year with Rabobank, took his first win of the season when he blasted along the Spanish 44.5-kilometer time trial course in 56'43. Sánchez cleanly beat Euskaltel-Euskadi's Jonathan Castroviejo into second place, by one minute. Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) was third, 1'12 behind the winner.

His team called the win a surprise, since Sánchez Gil hasn't had a good season so far. But the Spaniard showed that one week before the Tour de France he is starting to roll well.

France - Kern recognizes that French title is hard to compare internationally

Christophe Kern was quite realistic about his French national time trial title. "In France, there really aren't any chrono specialists," he told L'Equipe after beating Christophe Riblon and Geoffrey Lequatre. "My title isn't a surprise - I already was second [2008] and third [2006]." He knows to put it in perspective. "In a Tour de France time trial, I'll be around 2'30 to three minutes behind a guy like Cancellara."

But Kern is certainly having good form, after a decent showing in the Critérium du Dauphiné. He is not ruling out a start at the Worlds in Copenhagen, Denmark, later in the year. "I saw Laurent Jalabert [National Coach] just before I stepped onto the podium," Kern recalls. "I asked him if he'd take me and he answered that it would be fully up to me." Kern will have a few months to reflect about it. "This jersey is certainly given me a lot of motivation," he said.

He will talk with Jalabert after the Tour de France. "I'd like to go to the Worlds, but with ambitions. Why not eye a top ten?" So far, his preparation was focused on the mountains, with a stage win and six place overall at the Dauphiné. He doesn't even have a time trial bike where he stays.

Fabian Cancellara is the undisputed King of time trial, but he took a step back from the Swiss Nationals. That gave Martin Kohler the chance to shine and the BMC rider took full advantage. He won his first national title, ahead of Marcel Wyss (Geox-TMC) and Mathias Frank (BMC). Kohler covered the 41 kilometers difficult route in just under one hour (59'20), 34 seconds ahead of Wyss and 41 seconds clear of Frank. Team Type 1's Rubens Bertogliati was fourth, just six seconds off the podium.

Kohler proudly wore the red jersey with the white cross after the ceremony. "It's kind of a surprise for me, but it's great," Kohler said. "It was a great podium today since we're all really good friends. We're the same age and have been riding together since we were juniors and then in the Under 23 ranks and the national team."

RadioShack's Nelson Oliveira beat Hugo Sabido and Ermani Broco to take away the Portuguese time trial title. The first year professional showed in the Tour de Suisse that he is a strong rider against the clock. He was fourth then, behind Fabian Cancellara and his RadioShack teammates Andreas Klöden and Levi Leipheimer.

That result was big for him. "I was really motivated," said Oliveira in Pataias. "I knew I would have a big chance to win after what I saw last weekend, but you never know what can happen in a race. I am proud to wear the Portuguese 'flag' during all time trials the coming season." Nelson Oliveira has won seven titles as beginner, junior and U23 rider. "This is my first title in the elite category. I am very glad."

Team Director José Azevedo was confident and was not to be disappointed. "Already after the first of two laps, Nelson had the best time. We knew the other split times and had everything under control. Nelson is still young but already very experienced in this discipline," said Azevedo.

Last year, Nelson Oliveira took the silver medal at the U23 European Road Championships in Ankara as well as the bronze medal at the European TT Championships. In Melbourne he finished fourth in the U23 TT World Championship. In 2009 he was second - behind Jack Bobridge - at the U23 TT World Championship in Mendrisio.

After a break Nelson Oliveira will resume competition in the Tour de Wallonie (July 23th-27th)

In Russia, time trial and breakaway specialist Mikhail Ignatiev took the title by 25 seconds over Katusha teammate Vladimir Karpets. Evgeny Sokolov prevented an all-Katusha podium by holding off Artem Ovechkin, who was three seconds slower. It was Ignatiev's first Russian elite time trial win.